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Wednesday, 18 March 2020

1278) Brigitte Kowanz, Austria: "Opportunity - An illuminating Message": A stamp issue in the "Contemporary Art in Austria" Stamp Series: Date of Stamp issue: 17.03.2020:

1278) Brigitte Kowanz, Austria: "Opportunity - An illuminating Message": A stamp issue in the "Contemporary Art in Austria" Stamp Series: Date of Stamp issue: 17.03.2020:

This special Stamp issued under the "Contemporary Art in Austria" Stamp Series, shows the work - "Opportunity" by Viennese artist Brigette Kowanz, who uses light as a design medium in her work.

Brigette Kowanz was born in Vienna, Austria and studied at the University of Applied Arts from 1975-1980. She is a Professor at the Institute of Transmedial Art in the same University since 1997.

In 2017, she collaborated with Erwin Wurm to design the Austrian Pavilion for the Biennale in Venice.

Light, Space and Code:

Light, Space and Code have been at the centre of Brigette Kowanz's work since the 1980s. "Light is what you see": Light makes everything else visible, but itself mostly remains invisible or transparent. 

In her works, the artist creates situations in which light can show itself. Space is also addressed. Three-dimensional works like "Opportunity" are "infinity boxes" - using light, glass and mirrors they create what appears to be never-ending virtual spaces. When looking at the work from a real space, one enters this virtual space and encounters one's own reflection in it. This creates an "Opportunity" for reflection and a reality check - the recognition aspect being a significant element.

The digital world is, however, not only addressed by means of these virtual spaces, but also through codes in various forms. For example, as an earlier Binary code for transmitting information at the speed of light, Morse Code is the foundation of the digital era.

In "Opportunity", by contrast, writing and language are used as a Code. Depending upon the angle from which it is viewed, the writing shifts between abstract lines and concrete terminology, between being legible and illegible.

The design on this stamp

The design on this stamp is a light installation from 2017, which was shown in an exhibition in the Galerie Hausler in Zurich. It represents the concept "Opportunity" by taking the artist's handwriting and creating a virtualised and digitised version of it. This extremely personal piece of writing was then shaped into fluorescent tubes filled with argon and fluorescent material, thus becoming a glowing blue message.









Links to posts on Austrian Mint Coin issues on this blog:








14) Alfred Adler: The Vienna schools of Psychotherapy: A 3 coin 50 Euro Gold Coin Series:


15) The 100th Anniversary of the General Theory of Relativity by Albert Einstein: Gold and Silver Coins issued by the Royal Mint of Belgium in denominations of 50 Euro (Gold) and 10 Euro (Silver)

16) 825 Years of the Vienna Mint (1194-2018): A Silver Bullion Coin issued by the Austrian Mint, Vienna celebrating the milestone (issuedate: 12/12 - with year of issue engraved as 2019

17) Austria: "Chivalry- Knights Tales": The first Coin in a 5 Coin Series to be issued by the Austrian Mint, features Maximilian I (1459-1519): 500th Anniversary of the passing away of the Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria: Issue Date: 10.04.2019

18) "The Magic of Gold Coin Series" from the Mint of Austria: The Gold Coin Series of 100 Euro Gold Coins traces the mysterious nature of gold in ancient cultures: First Coin in the Series depicts King Nebuchadnezzar II (640 B.C. - 562 B.C.): Coin issue date: 16.10.2019

19) "Reaching For The Skies" Austria: First Coin in the series of four Silver Coins brought out by the Mint of Austria (Osterreich Mint): Coin Issue Date: 23.01.2019

20) The Wiener Musikverein, Vienna, Austria: 150th Anniversary of the opening of the legendary Musikverein Concert Hall in 1870: Two 5 Euro Commemorative New Year 2020 dated Coins being issued by the Austrian Mint - one in Silver and the other in Copper on 04.12.2019

21) 100 Years of the Salzburg Festival, Austria (1920-2020): Austrian Post has issued a postage stamp celebrating the milestone: Date of Stamp issue: 21.01.2020






For posts on COTY (Coin of the Year) winners since 2015 in a competition held by Krause Publications of Germany, please visit the following links:

Links to posts on Federal Republic of Germany issues and other posts on this blog:







7 comments:

  1. Rajan Trikha has commented:
    "Very interesting ‘Opportunity" usages.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was quite impressed/fascinated with this concept propounded by this Professor. Thought I would write this post, Trikha sahab.

      Delete
    2. Rajan Trikha has further commented:
      "Yes of course very innovative style."

      Delete
  2. Ashok Borate has commented:
    "Very nice."

    ReplyDelete
  3. Radhakrishnan Thampy has commented:
    "Thanks for sharing. Best wishes."

    ReplyDelete